Taxi Driver Online

I think it was him pleading GUILTY that convicted him.

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Grandad,

The name of her campaign was most unfortunate and I know she realises that. If it hadn't been for you the story would have been left to lie but as it is you invited us all to view the Sheffield forum and having done so it came across quite clear to me that the lady was seeking advice and didn't wish to offend any members of the taxi trade.

History tells us that many people who have been blighted by circumstance have made a crusade out of righting a perceived wrong. This lady is no different but I don't see her in the same light as you, who no doubt thinks she is a person hell bent on destroying the Taxi trade. If there is a villain of the piece then in my opinion it is the cab driver who abused her. If he hadn't abused her we wouldn't be here now discussing the situation as it stands.

Regards

JD

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OK that too grandad.

I pointed out that she has done this before and she got criticised for it and promissed to change things only to set up shop somewhere else. Maybe the outright ignorance of the taxi trade and the rules we work under I found disturbing. This lady is creating a very bad impression about the trade I work in, and I just wonder where next are we going to get the same headline with another set of drivers being targetted as rapists?

The fact is that the cab trade and that includes private hire, is full of rapists, in fact you would be hard pressed to find another industry that consistantly turns out sex offenders year on year at the rate the cab trade does.

GBC and others have constantly highlighted the plague of minicab rapists in London before minicab drivers were licensed. Being licensed has seen a sharp decrease in sexual assualts in London by minicab drivers but lets not forget that year on year on this website we report on the continuing sexual harrasment of taxi and private hire drivers on what I consider vulnerable females.

We don't hide the truth on TDO as you well know and if you look in the news section you will see the figures for sexual assualts by cab drivers are constant year on year.

So cab drivers do sexually assault women and those who are caught get highlighted on TDO but only if it conmes to our attention. The ones who get away with sexual assualts might never be exposed and I think we all know there are plenty of them around.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

That point I agree with and we all would support a clean up with tight rules but someone with an agenda wanting to change rules without knowing that the same rules are already in place is what I see as causing trouble for trouble's sake. I am in clear agreement with you the in need to have all the back ground checks for drivers and for the trade to be cleaner and rid of the scum but not for every body to be defamed like this. I feel we may end up going in circles with this if continued further.

We have a difference of opinion thats all. Where I see a young female who is naive in understanding Taxi licensing law, you see something in her that you percieve to be more sinister.

Where I see a woman who wants to tighten taxi background checks and perhaps make taxi drivers produce information to passengers that will readilly identify them as being the driver, you perhaps see that as an unnecessary intrusion.

I don't have an answer to the situation but I can tell you what she wants to achieve.

1. No drivers with a background of sexual or aggressive behaviour to women to be driving Taxis.

2. Clearer Taxi Licence Numbers

3. Regular undercover checks.

Now that is what she told me and if you feel threatend by those objectives then so be it but I think the least we could do is offer her the courtesy of debating the points she raised and perhaps explaining that at least some of her objectives are part and parcel of current practice.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

Maybe a better name for her (dis)organisation would be "Shut up and drive?"

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Former taxi driver

Maybe TDO could start a "Cabbies against rape" campaign?

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Former taxi driver

Maybe every taxi/PH union, association, website, newspaper/magazine, driver, owner, operator, council and gov department should do the above.

It effects us all.

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IDFIMH

That is a wonderful idea and has my vote too. The taxi trade needs to project a positive image of the decent taxi drivers for a change, which I consider most of us are.

What would the campaign consist of Jimbo and how would you spot a potential sex offender out of one thousand licensed drivers??

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

In 2003 STF, over a disputed fare, a Sheffield cabby was accused of locking a 19 year old girl inside his cab and driving her back to the place where he picked her up. I seem to recall it was a big issue at the time but have you any idea how the issue was resolved?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Woman-cri ... .972423.jp
An issue of that sort hit the headlines (and may be a different case but one that I recall of that period) because when the cab was being driven back towards town from some seven miles away, the young lady jumped from the open window and injured herself quite seriously. The driver wasn't found to be at fault in that particular case because he claimed he was driving back to the police station. I can't remember reading any more about the young lady after that episode but this issue of taxi drivers locking doors and driving back to pick up point was discussed widely then in the local media etc.

As you claim to be a responsible journalist in your dealing with various authorities (and as I'm sure you claimed when contacting this female directly). So - on what FACTS do you base your claim that the "cab trade" is the biggest employer of sex offenders -

"the cab trade and that includes private hire, is full of rapists, in fact you would be hard pressed to find another industry that consistantly turns out sex offenders year on year at the rate the cab trade does."

You have obviously carried out research and have the relevant facts to hand to back up your claim. So when will you publishing your supporting data?

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